Jack the Ripper

The following information in regards to a recent DNA matchhas revealed more information on the true identity of Jack The Ripper."An armchair sleuth claims to have identified Jack the Ripper, the notorious serial killer of at least five women in London in the late 19th century. Russell Edwards says a shawl from one of the murdered women proves that Aaron Kosminski, a Polish immigrant and one of the original suspects in the case, was the murderer. Mr. Edwards teamed up with a molecular biologist to prove his case, presented in a new book Naming Jack the Ripper. However, other experts say the proof is not conclusive, thus leaving a cloud of suspicion still hanging over many suspects." National Post, September 9, 2014With this evidence being inconclusive,it remains a possibility that James Maybrick could very well have been Jack The Ripper.Read on...

For any Ripperologist, the Diary of Jack the Ripper has to be one of the most controversial books to ever surface, but in 1992 such a diary did surface after a gentleman by the name of Michael Barrett from Liverpool brought it to London to the Rupert Crew Literary Agency. The book really isn't so much a diary as such as there are no dates, and only a few family reference details. This book is more of a confessional in which the killer tries to justify his late 1800's killing spree. The book provides a very graphic account of the murder of seven women, including the five prostitutes in Whitchapel in 1888 who are considered to be victims of the Ripper. How the book came into Michael Barrett's hands is a long and convoluted story, but it's origins are from Liverpool. Forensic testing on the paper and ink used in the diary have professional historians divided as to their exact age, although the consensus now seems by most in authority to be dateable to 1888/9. The emeregence of James Maybrick's watch in 1993 began much debate around a Maybrick connection to the diary. The small pocket watch was ornately engraved, but around the edge of the watch was scratched the five initials of the victims of Jack the Ripper. In the middle were the the words, 'I am Jack'; and at the bottom was the signature 'J. Maybrick'. The watch has been deemed authentic and the scratches have been proven to be decades old. To tell the complete story here would be exhausting, but I will share that to this day, no single person has been so linked to the Jack the Ripper killings as James Maybrick. The diary contains a wealth of information about the killings that relates back to James. There are supposed references to Florence Maybrick in the Diary, and it was well known that James made several trips to London in the pursuit of medications and powders to treat his ailments. One of the intriguing details of the diary is that the writer appears to know a considerable amount about the long term affects of arsenic abuse. James' use of arsenic grew to as much as three times a day. James was very familiar with the Whitechapel area of London, and the deaths of the Ripper victims took place when James was visiting London. Research into James' life revealed a much darker side than most imagined, and much of it lent support to the fact the the diary entries might very well be authentic. Composite sketches of Jack the Ripper look similar to James Maybrick. Photographs of the mutilated body of victim Mary Kelly reveal the letter 'FM' on the wall behind her bed which some say could possibly stand for Florence Maybrick. No one has come forward to reveal themselves as the culprit if the diary is a hoax, and no person has been able to confirm that it truly is a forgery, either through scientific or literary means. As I mentioned there are many mentions of Florence in the Diary, but there are frequent references to her 'Whore Master' which many believe to be that of Albert Brierley with whom Florence was having an affair - an affair that James was very much aware of. Many believe that the murders could only have been done by someone who was either evil in nature, criminally insane, or under the influence of long term drug abuse. Others could not possibly believe that a man such as James character could possibly resort to such crimes. The study into this is long, and the links between James and the Diary are numerous. The Whitechapel murders ended in November 1889, notably at the same time that James switched doctors and began receiving new medications, and just a few months prior to his death in Liverpool.

Could our ancestor have sat on the jury at the trial of Florence Maybrick, not even knowing that she was being tried for actually murdering Jack the Ripper? Some believe that Florence was aware of this side to James, and that she truly was responsible for his death. All of the information you seek can be found in the book to the left which I've mentioned previously. It does make for a great 'late night" read if nothing else... trust me!

Please Click here for the the publisher's information so you can obtain your own copy!